Paris authorities removed hundreds of thousands of metal padlocks from iconic Pont des Arts bridge in front of the Louvre on Monday, with the new anti-romantic token ban possibly breaking millions of hearts around the world - for security reasons.

Both Parisians and tourists had been attaching their tokens to
the famous 19th century bridge for years. The padlocks
symbolically immortalize their love.

While lovers kept flocking to the pedestrian bridge willing to
attach their initialed testaments of love to its metallic grid
railings, then throwing the keys into the Seine River, others
were alarmed over safety.

Advocacy group 'No Love Locks' has been formed launching a long
campaign, which eventually achieved its goal of preserving Paris'
World UNESCO Heritage sites from the grip of love sick visitors.

Workmen started to pull off the metal padlocks on Monday, with
the removal expected to continue throughout the week. Access to
the bridge will be "prohibited at all times" until June
8, authorities said, asking people to use nearby bridges to cross
the river.

"It's the end of the padlocks," Reuters cited deputy
Paris mayor Bruno Julliard as saying, with the official adding:
"They spoil the aesthetics of the bridge, are structurally
bad for it and can cause accidents." At least one section of
the railing had already collapsed under their weight, and caused
potential risk to shipping on the River Seine, the official
added.

To prevent the practice from re-emerging, Paris authorities will
later install protective plexiglass panels.

Although love locks have already started to turn up at other
locations around Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, they will not
be tolerated either, deputy mayor said. "We all want Paris to
remain the city of love, of romance. But we think it can stay the
city of love without love locks," Julliard added.

The authorities are now looking into several humanitarian
projects to recycle the metal used for the padlocks that have
fallen under the ban, "so that the symbol of love... invested
in them will not be lost entirely."